VOLUME 147 ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Dept of Ed renews FAFSA push Though close to 9 million FAFSA college financial aid forms have been submitted, many students have yet to fill out the form. The US Department of Education is rolling out a new campaign to encourage filling out the form, providing funding to schools, nonprofits and community organizations to boost FAFSA awareness and submissions. The department says it has made “significant progress” to address issues with the new FAFSA form, with most schools sending student aid offers ahead of upcoming admissions deadlines. Previously, North Carolina public colleges, including App State and the UNC system, extended admission deadlines to May 15 after widespread issues with the FAFSA form.
Red Cross urges hurricane prep This is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the American Red Cross reminds us. With hurricane season starting June 1, the organization recommends putting together an evacuation plan, including what to do with pets and how to help stranded family members. An emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batterypowered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for an infant and pets if applicable, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area and emergency contact information is also strongly recommended. A Red Cross smartphone app is also available on the App Store, complete with information on Red Cross shelter locations.
Red Cross seeking volunteers In addition to reminding people to be prepared, the Red Cross is also seeking volunteers to help during disasters. The agency is looking for people to provide shelter support, health services (from professional license holders including RN, LPN, EMT, MD, and others), and the more locally-focused disaster action team that focuses on house fires and other smaller emergencies. Visit redcross.org/ volunteertoday for more information.
PHOTO COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Paying respects The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office sent a number of deputies to the 39th Annual North Carolina Peace Officers’ Memorial Day Ceremony in Statesville Tuesday morning. The ceremony carried an even heavier tone this year, following so closely with the line of duty deaths of a US Marshal, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer and two NC Department of Corrections officers in Charlotte last week. Representing CCSO was, from left to right, Deputy Reggie Griffin, Chief Deputy Steve Maynor, Deputy Willie Bell, Captain Phillip Richard, and Deputy Jason Kane.
DA defends independence, charging decisions in UNC protest arrests Chapel Hill and Carrboro council members condemned the “overreaction” by UNC administrators By Jordan Golson and A.P. Dillon Chatham News & Record THE ARRESTS of protesters at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill last week ignited a dispute between local elected officials and the District Attorney’s office. In a joint statement, seven members of the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils condemned what they called an
“overreaction by the UNC administration” in arresting peaceful protesters. The councilmembers, who noted that local police were not involved in the action, believe UNC created an environment that “inevitably resulted in an escalation of force, including the use of pepper spray against its own students.” The statement urged UNC to follow recently published ACLU guidance on protecting free speech and academic freedom. It also called on District Attorney Jeffrey Nieman, who represents both Chatham and Orange County to dismiss the charges against those arrested and prioritize restorative justice. DA Nieman responded sharply,
Chapel Hill considers $156M budget, bond issuances “This budget… says that we believe in ourselves, we have hope for tomorrow and we are not going to fix it all, but we are confident.” Council member Camille Berry
The 2025 budget calls for a two cent tax increase By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record THE TOWN of Chapel Hill Council met Wednesday, May 1 for its regular business meeting, with the primary goal being consideration of the budget for fiscal 2024-25. The proposed budget totals $156,259,106, a 4% increase from the prior year’s budget. The new budget also calls for a two-cent increase in the tax rate, raising it to a total rate of $0.592. “I’m concerned about the cumulative impacts on this community and the general affordability for people to be here,” said Mayor Pro Tem Amy Ryan on the proposed tax increase. “There’s not an easy answer to that but I want to make sure that as we move forward, we really understand what sustainability means.” There will be a public hearing on the budget at the council’s May 15 meeting. “This budget, for me, says that we believe in ourselves, we have hope for tomorrow and we are not going to fix it all, but we are confident,” said Councilmember Camille Berry. Moving on to other business, the council also approved a text amendment to the stormwater management requirements to implement greater regulations in regards to increased precipitation frequency and intensity being experienced as a result of climate change. The text amendment clarifies the volume reSee COUNCIL, page A3
saying that while he understood the officials’ desire to speak out, “a prosecutorial decision should never be made prior to collection and thorough review of all the relevant evidence.” He noted that evidence was still being compiled, making it impossible for anyone to determine how best to proceed. Nieman said 36 individuals face charges ranging from 2nd degree trespass to assault on a government official, and pledged to make decisions on prosecution only after receiving and reviewing all evidence. “Our office remains committed to our core responsibility of public safety,” he stated. “Peaceful and lawful protesters, as well as law enforcement officials carrying out their duties,
have the right to these activities free from violence.” Chapel Hill Mayor Jessica Anderson acknowledged the difficulty of the situation in remarks at a city council meeting. While reaffirming the town’s support for free speech and peaceful assembly, she emphasized the need to ensure public safety. “We will continue to do our best in navigating this stressful and difficult time,” Anderson said. The protests centered around the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite differing views on solutions, the mayor said the community shared common goals, including an end to violence, the return of hostages, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and lasting peace.
UNC suspends students, some faculty withhold grades in solidarity A reported 15 students have been suspended by the university By Jordan Golson and A.P. Dillon Chatham News & Record UNC-CHAPEL HILL is dealing with threats from some faculty and graduate teaching assistants to withhold grades as part of a protest over the university’s treatment of student protesters and the reported suspension of more than a dozen students. “The provost’s office will support sanctions for any instructor who is found to have improperly withheld grades, but it is our hope we can resolve this matter amicably and without harm to students,” declared a missive sent to deans and department chairs from UNC-Chapel Hill Provost Chris Clemens and Graduate School Dean Beth Mayer-Davis. “It would be a disservice to all of you and to the institution if a minority of instructors were to damage the trust we hold with our students by
withholding grades.” In a post on X, Congressman and attorney general candidate Dan Bishop (R-NC) said any professor withholding grades “should be fired immediately,” and, were he attorney general, he would sue for “a mandatory injunction commanding disclosure of the concealed grades and surrender of the record(s) of them.” A letter to the university from faculty, students, alumni and community members expressing support to the administration’s decision to suspend protesters has received close to 1,500 signatures. In all, some 15 students have been suspended from UNC-Chapel Hill because of See UNC, page A2
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